April 2026
Released May 22, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.
In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.
Virginia
Employment snapshot
In April, Virginia added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 6,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 37,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Virginia’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 33,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 5,800 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Virginia fell by 8,019, and over the past 12 months it fell by 61,906.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.4 percent in April from 63.6 percent and is tied for 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
Virginia
Payroll employment
Virginia added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 6,800 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia lost 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Virginia added 5,800 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From March 2026 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,400) and Construction (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-2,100) and Other Services (-2,100).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+15,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-21,200) and Federal Government (-20,200).
Virginia
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Virginia fell to 63.4 percent in April from 63.6 percent in the prior month.
Virginia is tied for 19th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.